I acquired this late war Browning H.P. at the last gun show. The pisto lcame with capture papers and the 1911 holster adjusted by the GI to carry his prize. I added the others from my collection. The soldier attached a German medal to the front of the holster and my friend, who sold me the pistol, will give it to me at the next show.
Thanks for looking,
Joe

turps

February 6, 2012, 11:00 PM

The added Browning H.P.s

80viking

February 6, 2012, 11:52 PM

You have a lovely family.:D

I wish my FM Hi-Power had that heritage!

Winchester_73

February 11, 2012, 04:32 PM

Joe

Anytime you want $400 for any of those hipowers, give me a ring! ;)

Very nice guns. I missed your newest hi power by less than 20 min because had I discovered it, it would have went home with me. I only have this hi power, 1944 production IIRC.

http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww332/357SandW/9mms2.jpg

turps

February 11, 2012, 08:06 PM

They are are all very nice military pistols! You have a nice collection. I like the Brownings as much as Lugers annd 1911AIs. In nice original war time condition, they can't be beat.They are one nice pistol!
Thanks for showing,
Joe

TheGoldenState

February 11, 2012, 08:14 PM

Winchester, WOW. Talk about pristine.

What is the top and bottom?

Chris_B

February 11, 2012, 08:19 PM

unless my eyes deceive me greatly, that is a P.38 and an Astra, top and bottom

TheGoldenState

February 11, 2012, 09:12 PM

unless my eyes deceive me greatly, that is a P.38 and an Astra, top and bottom

Thanks, I want both:D

Any idea of the availability and price, off hand?

Chris_B

February 11, 2012, 09:31 PM

As always, "it depends" :D

Winchester_73

February 12, 2012, 05:41 PM

unless my eyes deceive me greatly, that is a P.38 and an Astra, top and bottom

Correct. The P38 is a late war Oct 1944 made V block CYQ with the late war cogwheel hammer. Here is a picture of both hammer styles, cogwheel on the left. Cogwheels most likely start in 1944 and end in 1945 when production shortcuts became even more obvious.

(P38 on left is top in the first photo from the other post while P38 on right is the P38 pictured lower in this post)

The astra and P38 from the group photo are both all matching non import. The Astra is a 600/43, one of the 31k made for the Nazis by the Spanish. This is one of the ones that was not delivered, and captured by the Allies. They are 9mm luger, not largo as many of the astras are IE the 400. You can find a 600/43 for around $400 if you're patient. If you want one of the Nazi delivered ones, maybe $2000 or so. Mine is not import marked however. Here is a thread that covers them. Mine would be considered second contract, SN 22XXX.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384530

The P38 will run $400 for an import marked dipped shooter to say $5000 for a 480 code rig (480 was the original Walther code with AC being used later) or more for certain specimens. There are a lot of bad P38s floating around, educate yourself first, buy one second, which is how I do things.

I just got this P38 at the same gunshow Turps was at. It was $625, CYQ E block, red mottled grips. Now of course I think this was a great price, but just to give you an idea. CYQs are most common, but any P38 thats correct is no longer a walk in the park to find.

I bought a Soviet "rebuild" from SOG last summer. No matching numbers, extensive pitting but it shoots just fine! It was about half price of a correct one.

Herr Walther

February 13, 2012, 07:41 PM

I cannot tell from the photograph, but is the cyq's slide lever smooth on the thumb surface?

That is a very nicely finished cyq for so late in the war. Most are much rougher than this with very thin finish.

Winchester_73

February 18, 2012, 02:34 PM

I cannot tell from the photograph, but is the cyq's slide lever smooth on the thumb surface?

That is a very nicely finished cyq for so late in the war. Most are much rougher than this with very thin finish.

Every P38 that I've owned had a smooth slide lever although I've yet to get a Mauser made P38.

They are both pretty nicely finished for being so late in the war. The V block gun is a Oct 1944 (fairly late war) and the E block with the red mottled grips is July 1943 which I don't really consider late war.

Here is a rougher finished P38 that I had, b block - April 1943. Note the rough machining and lack of polishing on the slide.